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A. Not a problem? B. Big no no? C. Why can't you leave well enough alone? I don't currently have any problem with my 3 Carène, I'm thinking of using an ultrasonic cleaner with more troublesome pens that are hard to disassemble, or I just don't know how to like the Parker 105; but it would be nice to know if it would damage the Carène with its inlaid (and glued?) nib. Same question for Geha Goldschwinge, with the diference that they seem way more fragile than Carènes... But one of them would probably really benefit since even Rapido Eze can't get it to write with the right flow...

I dove down the rabbit hole of 1970s inlaid nibs. To my knowledge, only three sizes were available, fine, medium and broad, on Sheaffer 330s, 440s and 444s. Sometimes the nib size is indicated on the nib unit (printed in yellow or moulded into the plastic), but more often there is no indication other than a sticker on the body that the original owner removed when they bought the pen decades ago. So far, so good. But recently I acquired two 444s, one unmarked but sold as a fine, and the other clearly marked as a B. They don't match my preconceived nib sizes. The fine is closer to what I consider an extra fine (0.4mm), but that's fine with me. However, the B is what I consider a double broad (BB), or even a triple broad stub (BBB), with 1.0mm downstrokes and 0.7mm side strokes. I was very surprised. I was expecting something more like : Fine (~0.4 mm) Medium (~0.5 mm) Broad (~0.7 mm) Maybe I'm wrong and there were more than 3 nib sizes: Extra fine (~0.4mm) Fine (~0.4 mm) Medium (~0.5 mm) Broad (~0.7 mm) Stub (1.0 mm) Where can I find a reference that lists the nib sizes that were originally offered on these pens?

I just received this pen via an online auction and I'm trying to pin down the identity. It's a Sheaffer, cartridge/squeeze converter, "Gold Electroplated", "Sheaffer Made in U.S.A.", nib is inlaid 585 14K gold. I think I have it narrowed down to either an Imperial 727 or 777. The differences between the two models isn't clear to me. Any help would be appreciated.

I just gave myself two lovely Targa pens as a birthday gift. One is the Black Laque model, the other is a gold-plated pen with a striped pattern that I've been unable to identify on the sheaffertarga.com site (looks like a Regency sans the black contrasting paint). Both pens came in pretty good condition, with lovely 14k inlaid nibs that were properly treated and taken care of, but unfortunately, both came with cartridge units rather than converters. Upon returning home and doing the cleaning and the flushing, I tried fitting the aerometric converters from both my Blue Ronce Targa and my Triumph 550 (late 70's, early 80's) into the Black Laque pen which I was planning to use on a daily basis on my desk, but much to my surprise, the converters just won't fit! They are lose and don't seat properly on the newer pens. I was able to fit the entire section of the Blue Ronce into the Black Laque, thou. I would have expected these pens to be the same as those previously issued, but this seems not to be the case. Are there special or modern converters for these pens? BTW the writing behind the pens was made with the nib from the older one. It gives a lot of line variation within pretty little pressure. A joy!

Hello, I have a Sheaffer Legacy Heritage with an Inlaid nib. Unfortunately, the nib started leaking at the inlay. (I could get a diamond pattern if I press a tissue against the nib). I heard some suggestions to use wax or Capt. Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure, both of which sounded scary. It was one of the last ones made in the Fort Madison plant, so I didn't want to disassemble it. Is there any chance that the problem would resolve itself? or should I send it to a nibmeister for repair?

As I'm sitting here on a damp Thanksgiving, with some coffee and chocolate-pecan pie (highly recommended!), I'm just taking it easy and pondering modern style as it pertains to pens. I've actually begun a project renovating my 1965 vintage ranch style house, so the styles and fashions of that era have been much on my mind. I have to be very clear on what I mean by modern in this context. In the pen world we usually divide pens into vintage and modern, which is all about age. Even though the exact transition point can be debated, we all pretty much define it in terms of years. So. . . That's NOT what this post is about, and from this point forward I'm going to try and avoid the word "modern" and simply say "mod" instead, so everybody knows I'm talking about the design language, not the age of a pen. From where I sit, mod designs hit the pen world around 1940-1941 with the introduction of the Sheaffer Triumph and the Parker 51. The streamlined shapes, new materials, and conical nibs (on the Triumph) and hooded nibs (on the 51) were a very deliberate break with tradition. Other companies got into the act, but to me Sheaffer and Parker were the leaders in this movement. Later we saw the coming of Sheaffer inlaid nibs (notably on the Imperial and Targa series), the Pilot Vanishing Point, various Japanese pocket pens, and of course the Lamy 2000 and the Safari. To my mind, all of these are icons of mod style among fountain pens. Today it seems that we've regressed, and most contemporary pens are more-or-less traditionalist. You know, I love those 1920s style oversized flat-tops as much as anyone, and I've got my share of modern retreads of those. From today's Parker Duofold, to the 1930s-ish ultra-stodgy designs of Pelikan and Mont Blanc, to all those retro Bexleys. . . Traditionalist pens are in. For those who favor a more purist mod design, the options are limited. Sheaffer and Parker are shadows of their former selves. It seems like the only mod stalwarts today are Pilot, with the VP and E95S, and Lamy with the 2000 and the Safari and Studio and several other models that accept Safari nibs. If I'm overlooking anything out there, please point them out! I feel like perhaps we've, collectively, become too fixated on the old-fashioned-ness of fountain pens. For example, how often has somebody here on FPN rejected the Parker 51 for not having a big, open, traditional nib to show off? Perhaps we forget how design-forward some of these famous pens were in their time. Maybe we should appreciate them more?

Wasn't sure where to put this topic, Waterman or Repairs, so I just rolled the dice. I have a 'Palladium/Silvertone' trim Waterman Carene with a very wet, juicy M nib. Can these types of nibs (inlaid) be successfully re-ground? And if so, any particular nibmeister recommendations for this sort of job? I want it taken down to F or even EF. Thanks.

Good evening everyone out in the pen world! It has been a while since I have done a review, but this weekend I obtained a little gem of a pen. I say little, I mean a baseball bat/club. I digress. Here is an informal review of what we have found. In short, I have been lucky enough to have pick up an amazing, and truly different writing instrument, totally unexpected. My partner and I were out on a pen shopping expedition to a nice bricks-and-mortar shop we have frequented in the past (penbox uk) in Epworth, UK, to order a pen for my upcoming birthday. This typically involves pen talk, tea in the cafe next door and more pen talk. Invariably, the proprietor/owner, Steve, allows us to handle and dip pens that catch our interest and from time to time pulls out the odd special item he has got stashed in his store room. This time he pulled out an absolute beauty... Now, I was definitely NOT a Sheaffer person, I love Conway Stewart, Pelikan, TWSBI, stub nibs and the like. I do have a (inexpensive) stainless steel sheaffer with a standard nib, a bit of a nail, functional, but have never thought of going "high end" with Sheaffer. So. Out came a box. Huge and heavy. Hmmm curiosity. Box opened, very carefully. Oh my. Box contains a Sheaffer box, which contains a suede-like bag with a shiny black lacquered box within. Inside this box was a book, a guarantee, a pen sleeve and, the pen... (also comes with limited edition ink bottle and cartridges). Phew! So far so good. Still at this point, I am at the "thanks for showing, but I want a Pelikan/Visconti/Something Else etc etc". That is until the pen was passed into my hand. Oh my. So. Here we go. First impressions. Baseball bat, club, heavy, chunky, oh my just looooook at the amount of detail and craftsmanship in this little baby. This is unreal. Thanks again, but I am not buying it. Erm, wait a minute, just LOOK at that inlaid nib! Nope. Still not doing it. Second impression. "She who must be obeyed" wanted it. So be it. Wrap back up and purchase. Go home muttering. Third impression. Home at last. Cup of tea and time to unbox (again). Nope, had it been me alone I would have not bought this... Oh wait, this DOES feel nice in the hand. The heft is considerable, but VERY balanced. Let me just dip the nib in some Waterman Inspired Blue. Apply nib to paper. Oh. My. This is just nice. No, not nice, really nice. Immediate starter. Smooth. A (hint) of feedback, just enough to let you know it is a nib, but you have to really have a light touch to notice. Hmmmmm. Unboxing. Ok, so going back a step (trying to slow down a bit). The unboxing experience is for those that like big, expensive boxes, or are collectors of such, will be mega impressed. Presentation is stunning, even better than my Conway Stewart Winston. It is just awesome. However. It is a box, the box will be stored in the garage and the pen is going to be used, not put in a glass case. Overall Look of the pen. Everything is relative. For me, it was just the sheer amount of detail, the fact the pen has raised details, looks balanced, I think (capped) it looks what a silver Conway Stewart Churchill would look like. It looks well proportioned and although shiny (made of solid silver) isn't glaring, the edge of the shine is subtle rather than "bling". The section is what made me waver at the purchase. Rather than the typical section and sticky-outy nib (think Pelikan), this is a nicely tapered section which terminates in an inlaid nib. A beautiful inlaid nib. It looks just amazing, but having been brought up with standard type nibs, it took some getting used to. Never had an inlaid nib before. What amazing craftsmanship. The fit is seamless, it feels as if the nib and section were just made from the same material, the joint is so smooth. The nib. As above, it is an inlaid nib. Not everyones cup of tea, but it is a work of art. 18k gold, palladium plated, medium tipped. Looking through the loupe reveals a generous amount of tipping material, even and well finished (no babys bottom). I have had a Pelikan M1000 with the tip off-centre, Pelikan should have a look at these and maybe take notes. I am firmly a B, BB or stub fan, but this is a medium. I love it. I wish it was a BB, but variety they say is the spice of life, well, this is a medium but flows as wet and smooth as a B or BB, but lays down a nice medium line. Nice. The cap. Big, heavy, detailed. Takes one and a half full turns to remove. I like it. The clip, at first I thought was cheap, I am not 100% sure if it is silver or not. It could be, BUT, looking underneath the tip of the clip, there appears to be a small ball to facilitate fitting in a shirt pocket smoothly and is a different shade to the clip-proper. The clip "may" be silver. I think the clip, being simple, does in fact work with the design, despite its "austere" look, but I still think it looks cheap, especially the plastic white dot. Sorry Sheaffer fans, it's just how I feel. It is growing on me though. Posting the cap. Don't. it is solid silver, it is heavy and posts really shallow. Stand it on your desk, hold it in your hand, use it as a doorstop. Don't post it. it totally wrecks the balance of the pen. Filling system. Plus points. Cartridge converter, takes Sheaffer carts and converters, the converter is fitted already, a couple of boxes of carts and a bottle of limited edition ink also supplied. Minus points. The converter looks as cheap as any other standard converter, really. I don't mind it not being a piston filler, but hey, at this price point, a higher quality converter would have been a nice touch, one that could be pulled apart to lubricate. Not sure if it can be pulled apart, not tried it, but it doesn't look so. The section. Never had an inlaid nib before, so the section profile was weird. This is what put me off in the shop. I though it looked stunning, but to my eye it didn't look right. Conflict. A couple of days later, a few pages of A4/Legal and why aren't all sections made this way??? Hey it still looks weird, but it works and works well. Like I said, this is not destined to live in a box or in glass case, it is in my laptop bag and is an every day writer. Note to collectors, this will look stunning in a glass case with a nice led light, highlighting the incredible finish. Although not a collector per se, I do understand the collecting hobby and fully respect it. Horses for courses. So what now? Well, having been shown the pen in the shop and not selecting it for myself, my partner being the culprit, it actually migrated to my work bag faster than any pen in history. It is a daily writer, it is smooth, wet and very balanced despite it's weight. I will be using other pens, but I feel this is now in my permanent rotation. Anyone wanting one, don't buy it on spec/online, get to a real shop and get it in the hand. It truly is the only way to do this. All that is left is to get a suitable replacement to give to my partner. (as I write this she is on the phone chuckling at me). Cost? Cost. Ouch. I mean, the RRP is obscene. The web prices are not that much better, but when the ACTUAL price was a quarter or that on the internet, I think some sort of artificial price inflation is at hand. Not complaining, just sit i a comfy chair and google the price. Writing Sample. I have done a very quick scrawl just to show that it is truly a medium line. The weight makes a dramatic difference to the handwriting and does take some adjusting to, so profound apologies that my sample really does the pen a real injustice... Pics Just a few snaps, show and tell. Hope you like. Spec I have pasted the manufacturers spec below, taken from the Sheaffer site. Limited Edition features relief engraved images of Walter A. Sheaffer, his son and successor Craig R. Sheaffer, and the first Sheaffer factory in Fort Madison. Sheaffer® Centennial Limited Edition is limited worldwide to 45 Gold Fountain Pens, representing Walter A. Sheaffer’s age at the time he founded the company, and 516 Sterling Silver Fountain Pens, representing the official date of incorporation. All instruments bear a hallmark from the Assay Office of London, guaranteeing purity and fineness of the gold. FEATURESLimited to 45 Solid 18k Solid Gold fountain pens and 516 Sterling Silver fountain pensSheaffer's exclusive inlaid nib in 18K gold with or without palladium plate2mm diamond replaces the White Dot® on the solid gold fountain penEach individual instrument features engraved serial number on end of barrelSheaffer® White Dot®, the trademark symbol of writing excellence is featured on clip of Sterling Silver instrumentAll Sheaffer® Centennial Limited Edition writing instruments are packaged in a luxury gift box with a black lacquered finishComplete with protective bag for gift box, black leather pen pouch, one bottle of Sheaffer® Skrip® Ink, two shelf packs of Sheaffer® Skrip® ink cartridges, certificate of authenticity, and commemorative booklet

Hi all, Wondering if someone can help out with a PFM II issue. I'm Not experienced in repair but eager to get this sorted. Got what looks to be a leak that's caused the plastic inner cap to degrade, unusual as I've only been using diamine inks but anyways. After washing the cap out thoroughly there seems to be no end of brown crud emanating from the spring loaded clip. Got a feeling its from a rusting spring thats up there. On to the question; is it possible to remove and replace the inner cap (on a PFM II) so I can find out what's going on? Many thanks for your help in advance, Badger

Howdy, I'm currently waiting for bidding to close on this pen: http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA2NFgxNjAw/z/pVEAAOxydlFSvZoI/$_57.JPG REALLY bad image, but it the best overall shot on the auction. So the guy has it listed as an Imperial 330 - Afaik, the shape could possibly be, but I wasn't aware they came in Touchdown and I can't find anything to suggest they did with a google search. The 14k nib also gave me pause, but that could just potentially be because he did a nib swap. Is this just an Imperial IV that's been incorrectly identified? Also, the colour is just really washed out in that pic, it is actually golden coloured. Also, this will be my last "help me figure out this pen" because, god help me, I'll have a sheaffer imperial by the end of this week if it kills me